The pirates of Penzance : or the slave of duty

THE

PIRATES OF P ENZANCE

OR

THE SLAVE OF DUTY.

BY

W. S. GILBERT

AND

ARTHUR SULLIVAN

PRICE ONE SHILLING AND SIXPENCE NET.

CHAPPELL & CO., Ltd.

50, NEW BOND STREET, LONDON, W.I.
NEW YORK — SYDNEY

All Rights under the Copyright Act, 191 1, and the International
Copyright Conventions are reserved. Applications for the right of
performing the above Opera, including the use of band parts, must be
made to Rupert D'Oyly Carte, Savoy Hotel, London, W.C. 2.

MADE IN ENGLAND.

SIR MALCOLM SARGENT

HAROLD B.LEE LI BR' " '
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVtr _
PROVO, UTAH

THE

PIRATES OF PENZANCE;

Or, THE SLAVE OF DUTY.

BY

W. S. GILBERT

AND

ARTHUR SULLIVAN.

Dramatis Personam

Major-General Stanley

The Pirate King

Samuel (his Lieutenant)

Frederic (the Pirate Apprentice)

Sergeant of Police

Mabel n

Edith

Kate

Isabel ;

Ruth (Pirate Maid of all Work)

Chobus of Pirates, Police, and General Stanley's Daughters

ACT I.

A Rocky Seashore on the Coast of Cornwall.

ACT II.

A Ruined Chapel by Moonlight.

(General Stanley's

Daughters)

ML.

to

P5n

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE ;

or, THE SLAVE OF DUTY
111 I ACT_I.

Scene. — A rocky sea-shore on the coast of Cornwall. In the distance is a calm sea,
on which a schooner is lying at anchor. As the curtain rises groups of pirates
are discovered — some drinking, some playing cards. SAMUEL, the pirate
lieutenant, is going from one group to another, filling the cups from a flask.
Frederic is seated in a despondent attitude at the back of the scene. Ruth
kneels at his feet.

Opening Chorus.

Pour, oh pour the pirate sherry ;

hill, oh fill the pirate glass ;
And, to make us more than merry,
Let the pirate bumper pass.
Sam. For to-day our pirate 'prentice

Rises from indenture freed ;
Strong his arm and keen his scent is,
He's a pirate now indeed !
All. Here's good luck to Frederic's ventures !

Frederic's out of his indentures.

Sam. Two-and-twenty now he's rising,

And alone he's fit to fly,
Which we're bent on signalizing
With unusual revelry.

All. Here's good luck to Frederic's ventures !

Frederic's out of his indentures.
Four ! oh pour the pirate sherry, &c.

(Frederic rises and comes forward with Pirate King, who enters.)

King. Yes, Frederic, from to-day you rank as a full-blown member of our
and.

All. Hurrah !

Fred. My friends, I thank you all, from my heart, for your kindly wishes.
Would that I could repay them as they deserve !

King. What do you mean ?

Fred. To-day I am out of my indentures, and to-day I leave you for ever,

King. But this is quite unaccountable ; a keener hand at scuttling a
Cunarder or cutting out a P. and O. never shipped a handspike.

Fred. Yes, I have done my best for you. And why ? It was my duty under
my indentures, and I am the slave of duty. As a child I was regularly appren-
ticed to your band. It was through an error — no matter, the mistake was ours,
not yours, and I was in honour bound by it.

Sam. An error P^Wha^^rjjjrJ* ("Rttth rises and comes forward.)

Fred, i may not^eli you i ; it would reflect upon my well-loved Ruth.

Ruth. Nay, dear master, my mind has long been gnawed by the cankering
tooth of mystery. Better have it out,

ong — Ruth.

When Frederic was a little lad he proved so brave and daring,
is father thought he'd 'prentice him to some career seafaring.
was, alas ! his nurserymaid, and so it fell to my lot

To take and bind the promising boy apprentice to a pilot.

A life not bad for a hardy lad, though surely not a high lot,

Though I'm a nurse, you might do worse, than make your boy a pilot.

I was a stupid nurserymaid, on breakers always steering,

And I did not catch the word aright, through being hard of hearing

Mistaking my instructions, which within my brain did gyrate.

I took and bound this promising boy apprentice to a pirate.

A sad mistake it was to make and doom him to a vile lot.

T bound him to a pirate — you — instead of to a pilot.

-*r

HABO(kQd^ut,5)%irtS alfaoubt, the scope of this disaster,

BRroH^^YO^^t^Ni 8 ^ 1 ^^ W P lace > and break " t0 m y master.

A nurs|§j«aaftia£k iiotpajmid of what you people call work,

So I maWV^rfrry mintPto go as a kind of piratical maid-of-all-work.
„ „. Ad\d.that is how you find me now, a member of your shy lot,

Which you wouldn't have found, had he been bound apprentice to a pilot.

Ruth. Oh, pardon ! Frederic, pardon ! (Kneels.)

Fred. Rise, sweet one, I have long pardoned you.

Ruth (rises). The two words were so much alike !

Fred. They were. They still are, though years have rolled over their heads.
But this afternoon my obligation ceases. Individually, I love you all with
affection unspeakable, but, collectively, I look upon you with a disgust that
amounts to absolute detestation. Oh ! pity me, my beloved friends, for such
is my sense of duty that, once out of my indentures, I shall feel myself bound
to devote myself heart and soul to your extermination !

All. Poor lad — poor lad ! (All weep.)

King. Well, Frederic, if you conscientiously feel that it is your duty to
destroy us, we cannot blame you for acting on that conviction. Always act in
accordance with the dictates of your conscience, my boy, and chance the con-
sequences.

Sam. Besides, we can offer you but little temptation to remain with us.
We don't seem to make piracy pay. I'm sure I don't know why, but we don't.

Fred. 1 know why, but, alas ! I mustn't tell you ; it wouldn't be right.

King. Why not, my boy ? It's only half-past eleven, and you are one of us
until the clock strikes twelve.

Sam. True, and until then you are bound to protect our interests.

All. Hear, hear !

Fred. Well, then, it is my duty, as a pirate, to tell you that you are too
tender-hearted. For instance, you make a point of never attacking a weaker
party than yourselves, and when you attack a stronger party you invariably
get thrashed.

King. There is some truth in that.

Fred. Then, again, you make a point of never molesting an orphan !

Sam. Of course : we are orphans ourselves, and know what it is.

Fred. Yes, but it has got about, and what is the consequence ? Every one
we capture says he's an orphan. The last three ships we took proved to be
manned entirely by orphans, and so we had to let them go. One would think
that Great Britain's mercantile navy was recruited solely from her orphan
asylums — which we know is not the case.

Sam. But, hang it all ! you wouldn't have us absolutely merciless ?

Fred. There's my difficulty ; until twelve o'clock I would, after twelve
I wouldn't. Was ever a man placed in so delicate a situation ?

Ruth. And Ruth, your own Ruth, whom you love so well, and who has
won her middle-aged way into your boyish heart, what is to become of her ?

King. Oh, he will take you with him. (Hands Ruth to Frederic.)

Fred. Well, Ruth, I feel some little difficulty about you. It is true that I admire
you very much, but I have been constantly at sea since I was eight years old,
and yours is the only woman's face I have seen during that time. I think it is
a sweet face.

Ruth. It is — oh, it is !

Fred. I say I think it is ; that is my impression. But as I have never had
an opportunity of comparing you with other women, it is just possible I may be
mistaken.

King. True.

Fred. What a terrible thing it would be if I were to marry this innocent
person, and then find out that she is, on the whole, plain !

King. Oh, Ruth is very well, very well indeed.

Sam. Yes, there are the remains of a fine woman about Ruth.

Fred. Do you really think so ?

Sam. I do.

Fred. Then I will not be so selfish as to take her from you. In justice to
her and in consideration for you, I will leave her behind. (Hands Ruth to King.)

King. No, Frederic, this must not be. We are rough men who lead a rough
life, but we are not so utterly heartless as to deprive thee of thy love. I think

All.

King.

All.

King.

I am right in saying that there is not one here who would rob thee of this in-
estimable treasure for all the world holds dear.

All {loudly). Not one !

King. No, I thought there wasn't. Keep thy love, Frederic, keep thy love.
{Hands her back to Frederic.)

Fred. You're very good, I'm sure. [Exit Ruth.

King. Well, it's the top of the tide, and we must be off. Farewell, Frederic.
When your process of extermination begins, let our deaths be as swift and pain-
less as you can conveniently make them.

Fred. I will ! Efy th e l ov e I ha ve^, for you, I swear it ! Would that you could
render this ex'terrnination'un^cTs^ary' by accompanying me back to civilization !

King. No, Frederic, it cannot be. I don't think much of our profession,
but, contrasted with respectability, it is comparatively honest. No, Frederic,
I shall live and die a Pirate K

Song. — Pirate King.

Oh, better far to live and die
Under the brave black flag I fly,
Than play a sanctimonious part,
With a pirate head and a pirate heart.
Away to the cheating world go you,
Where pirates all are well to do ;
But I'll be true ro the song I sing,
And live and die a Pirate King.
For I am a Pirate King.
You are !
Hurrah for our Pirate King !
And it is, it is a glorious thing
To be a Pirate King.

It is!
Hurrah for our Pirate King !
When I sally forth to seek my prey,
I help myself in a royal way :
I sink a few more ships, it's true,
Than a well-bred monarch ought to do ;
But many a king on a first-class throne,
If he wants to call his crown his own,
Must manage somehow to get through
More dirty work than ever / do,
For I am a Pirate King.
You are !
Hurrah for our Pirate King !
And it is, it is a glorious thing
To be a Pirate King !

It is!
Hurrah for our Pirate King !

[Exeunt all except Frederic.
Enter Ruth.
Ruth. Oh, take me with you ! I cannot live if I am left behind.
Fred. Ruth, I will be quite candid with you. You are very dear to me, as
you know, but I must be circumspect. You see you are considerably older than
I. A lad of twenty-one usually looks for a wife of seventeen.

Ruth. A wife of seventeen ! You will find me a wife of a thousand !
Fred. No, but I shall find you a wife of forty-seven, and that is quite enough.
Ruth, tell me candidly, and without reserve, compared with other women-
how are you ?

Ruth. I will answer you truthfully, master — I have a slight cold, but other-
wise I am quite well.

Fred. I am sorry for your cold, but I was referring rather to your personal
appearance. Compared with other women, are you beautiful ?
Ruth (bashfully). I have been told so, dear master.
Fred. Ah, but lately ?
Ruth. Oh, no, years and years ago.
Fred. What do you think of yourself ?
Ruth. It is a delicate question to answer, but I think I am a fine woman.

All.
King.

All.

Fred. That is your candid opinion t

Ruth. Yes, I should be deceiving you if I told you otherwise.

Fred. Thank you, Ruth, I believe you, for I am sure you would not practise
on my inexperience ; I wish to do the right thing, and if — I say if — you are
really a fine woman, your age shall be no obstacle to our union ! (Chorus of girls
heard in the distance.) Hark ! Surely I hear voices ! Who has ventured to
approach our all but inaccessible lair ? Can it be Custom House ? No, it does
not sound like Custom House.

Ruth (aside). Confusion ! it is the voices of young girls ! If he should see
them I am lost.

Fred (looking off). By all that's marvellous, a bevy of beautiful maidens !

RUTH (aside). Lost ! lost ! lost ! ■ ..-—■~i.»«m m tntmmmmmmmw**

Fred. How lovely ! how surpassingly lovely is the plainest of them ! What
grace — what delicacy — what refinement ! And Ruth — Ruth told me she was

beautiful ! ■ m ■ ■■■"— ft™**'"'"

. —mi — — Recit.

Fred. Oh, false one, you have deceived me !

Ruth. I have deceived you ?

Fred. Yes, deceived me !

(Denouncing her.)

Duet. — Fred, and Ruth.

Fred.
Ruth
Fred.
Ruth.
Fred.
Ruth.
Fred.
Ruth.
Fred.

Ruth.

You told me you were fair as gold !
(wildly). And, master, am I not so ?

And now I see you're plain and old,

I am sure I am not a jot so.
Upon my innocence you play,

I'm not the one to plot so.
Your face is fined, your hair is grey.

It's gradually got so.
Faithless woman to deceive me,

I who trusted so !
Master, master, do not leave me,

Hear me, ere you go !
My love without reflecting,
Oh, do not be rejecting —
Take a maiden tender — her affection raw and green,
At very highest rating,
Has been accumulating
Summers seventeen — summers seventeen.

Ensemble.
Ruth.
Don't, beloved master,
Crush me with disaster.
What is such a dower to the dower I
have here ?
My love unabating
Has been accumulating
Forty-seven year — forty-seven year !

Fred.
Yes, your former master
Saves you from disaster.
Your love would be uncomfortably
fervid, it is clear,
If, as you are stating
It's been accumulating

IRLS.

Forty-seven year — forty-seven year i

(At the end he renounces her, and she goes off in despair.)

Recit. — Fred.

What shall I do ? Before these gentle maidens
I dare not show in this alarming costume.
No, no, I must remain in close concealment
Until I can appear in decent clot lung !

(Hides in cave as they enter climbing over the rocks.)
Climbing over rocky mountain,
Skipping rivulet and fountain,
Passing where the willows quiver
By the ever-rolling river,

Swollen with the summer rain :
Threading long and leafy mazes
Dotted with unnumbered daisies ;

#

Scaling rough and rugged passes,

Climb the hardy little lasse^

Till the bright sea-shore they gain !
Edith Let us gaily tread the measure,

Make the most of fleeting leisure :

Hail it as a true ally,

Though it perish by-and-bye.
All. Hail it as a true ally,

Though it perish by-and-bye.
Edith. Every moment brings a treasure

Of its own especial pleasure,

Though the moments quickly die,

Greet them gaily as they fly.
All. Though the moments quickly die, &c

Kate. Far away from toil and care,

Revelling in fresh sea air,

Here we live and reign alone

In a world that's all our own.

Here in this our rocky den

Far away from mortal men

We'll be queens, and make decrees —

They may honour them who please.
All. Let us gaily tread the measure, &c.

Kate. What a picturesque spot ! I wonder where we are !
Edith. And I wonder where papa is. We have left him ever so far oehind.
Isabel. Oh, he will be here presently ! Remember poor papa is not as young
as we are, and we come over a rather difficult country.

Kate. But how thoroughly delightful it is to be so entirely alone ! Why, in
all probability we are the first human beings who ever set foot on this enchanting
spot.

Isabel. Except the mermaids — it's the very place for mermaids.
Kate. Who are only human beings down to the waist !
Edith. And who can't be said strictly to set foot anywhere. Tails they may,
but feet they cannot.

Kate. But what shall we do until papa and the servants arrive with the

Edith. We are quite alone, and the sea is as smooth as glass. Suppose we
take off our shoes and stockings and paddle ?

All. Yes, yes ! The very thing ! {They prepare to carry out the suggestion.
They hWbt*tiett 'taken o$ ' &n& shoe; when Frederic comes forward from cave.)
D {recitative). Stop, ladies, pray !
{hopping on one foot). A man !

I had intended
Not to intrude myself upon your notice
In this effective but alarming costume,
But under these peculiar circumstances
It is my bounden duty to inform you
That your proceedings will not be unwitnessed !
Edith. But who are you, sir ? Speak ! {All hopping.)
Fred. I am a pirate !

All {recoiling, hopping). A pirate ! Horror !
Fred. Ladies, do not shun me !

This evening I renounce my wild profession ;
And to that end, oh, pure and peerless maidens !
Oh, blushing buds of ever-blooming beauty !
I, sore at heart, implore your kind assistance.
Edith. How pitiful his tale !
Kate. How rare his beauty !

All. How pitiful his tale ! How rare his beauty !

Song. — Fred.
Oh, is there not one maiden breast

Which does not feel the moral beauty
Of making worldly interest
Subordinate to sense of duty ?

Who would not give up willingly

All matrimonial ambition.
To rescue such an one as I

From his unfortunate position ?
All. Alas ! there's not one maiden breast

Which seems to feel the moral beauty
Of making worldly interest
Subordinate to sense of duty !
Fred. Oh, is there not one maiden here

Whose homely face and bad complexion
Have caused all hopes to disappear
Of ever winning man's affection ?
To such an one, if such there be,

I swear by Heaven's arch above you,
If you will cast your eyes on me —
However plain you be — I'll love you !
All. Alas ! there's not one maiden here

Whose homely face and bad complexion
Have caused all hope to disappear
Of ever winning man's affection '
Fred, (in despair). Not one ?

All. No, no — not one !

Fred. Not one ?
All. No, no !

Mabel enters-
Mabel. Yes, one !

All. 'Tis Mabel !

Mabel. Yes, 'tis Mabel !

Recit. — Mabel.

Oh, sisters, deaf to pity's name,

For shame !
It's true that he has gone astray,

But pray
Is that a reason good and true

Why you
Should all be deaf to pity's name ?
All (aside). The question is, had he not been

A thing of beauty,
Would she be swayed by quite as keen
A sense of duty ?
Mabel. For shame, for shame, for shame !

Song — Mabel.

Poor wandering one !

Though thou hast surely strayed.

Take heart of grace,

Thy steps retrace,
Poor wandering one !
Poor wandering one !
If such poor love as mine

Can help thee find

True peace of mind —
Why, take it, it is thine !
Take heart, fair days will shine ;
Take any heart — take mine !
ALL. Take heart, no danger lowers ;

Take any heart — but ours !

[Exit Mabel and Frederic,

(Edith beckons her sisters, who form in a semi-circle around her.)

Edith. What ought we to do,

Gentle sisters, say !
Propriety, we know,

Says we ought to stay ;
While sympathy exclaims,

8

" Free them from your tether —
Play at other games —

Leave them here together."
Kate. Her case may, any day.

Be yours, my dear, or mine.
Let her make her hay

While the sun doth shine.
Let us compromise

(Our hearts are not of leather).
Let us shut our eyes,

And talk about the weather.
Girls. Yes, yes, let's talk about the weather.

Chattering Chorus.
How beautifully blue the sky,
The glass is rising very high,
Continue fine I hope it may,
And yet it rained but yesterday.
To-morrow it may pour again,
(I hear the country wants some rain).
Yet people say, I know not why,
That we shall have a warm July.

Enter Mabel and Frederic.
[During Mabel's solo the Girls continue their chatter pianissimo, but listening
eagerly all the time.)

Solo. — Mabel.
Did ever maiden wake

From dream of homely duty,
To find her daylight break

With such exceeding beauty ?
Did ever maiden close

Her eyes on waking sadness,
To dream of such exceeding gladness ?
Fred. Ah, yes ! ah, yes ! this is exceeding gladness.
Girls. How beautifully blue the sky, &c.

Solo. — Fred.
{During this, Girls continue their chatter pianissimo as before, but listening intently
all the time.)

Did ever pirate roll

His soul in guilty dreaming,
And wake to find that soul

With peace and virtue beaming ?

Ensemble.
Mabel. Fred. Girls.

Did ever maiden wake, Did ever pirate loathed, How beautifully blue
&c. &c. the sky, &c.

Recit. — Fred.
Stay, we must not lose our senses,
Men who stick at no offences

Will anon be here.
Piracy their dreadful trade is,
Pray you get you hence, young ladies,
While the coast is clear.

[Frederic and Mabel retire.
Girls. No, we must not lose our senses,

If they stick at no offences

We should not be here.
Piracy their dreadful trade is —
Nice companions for young ladies !
Let us disappear.
{During this chorus the Pirates have entered stealthily, and formed in a
semi-circle behind the Girls. As the Girls move to go off each Pirate
seizes a girl. King seizes Edith and Isabel, Samuel seizes Kate.)

Girls. Too late !

Pirates. Ha ! Ha !

Girls. Too late !

Pirates. Ha ! Ha !

Ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! ha !
Pirates. Ladies.

Here's a first-rate opportunity We have missed our opportunity

To get married with impunity ; Of escaping with impunity ;

And indulge in the felicity So farewell to the felicity

Of unbounded domesticity. Of our maiden domesticity !

You shall quickly be parsonified, We shall quickly be parsonified,

Conjugally matrimonified, Conjugally matrimonified,

By a doctor of divinity, By a doctor of divinity,

Who resides in this vicinity. Who resides in this vicinity.

Ensemble.

Mabel {coming forward). Regit.

Hold, monsters ! Ere your pirate caravanserai

Proceed, against our will, to wed us all,
Just bear in mind that we are Wards in Chancery,
And father is a Major- General !
Sam {cowed). We'd better pause, or danger may befall,

Their father is a Major-General.
Girls. Yes, yes ; he is a Major-General ! {The Major-General hai
entered unnoticed, on rock.)

Gen. Yes, yes — I am a Major-General !
Sam. For he is a Major-General !
All. He is ! Hurrah for the Major-General !
Gen. And it is — it is a glorious thing

To be a Major-General !
All. It is !

Hurrah for the Major-General !

Song. — Major-General.

I am the very model of a modern Major-General,

I've information vegetable, animal and mineral ;

I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical..

From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical ;

I'm very well acquainted too with matters mathematical,

I understand equations, both the simple and quadra tical,

About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news —

With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.
All. With many cheerful facts, &c.
Gen. I'm very good at integral and differential calculus,

I know the scientific names of beings animalculous ;

In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,

I am the very model of a modern Major-General.
All. In short, in matters, vegetable, animal, and mineral,

He is the very model of a modern Major-General.
Gen. I know our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc's,

I answer hard acrostics, I've a pretty taste for paradox.

I quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus,

In conies I can floor peculiarities parabolus.

I can tell undoubted Raphaels from Gerard Dows and Zoffanies,

I know the croaking chorus from the " Frogs " of Aristophanes.

Then I can hum a fugue of which I've heard the music's din afore,

And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense " Pinafore."
All. And whistle all the airs, &c.
Gen. Then I can write a washing bill in Babylonic cuneiform,

And tell you every detail of Caractacus's uniform ;

In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,

I am the very model of a modern Major-General.
All. In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,

He is the very model of a modern Major-General.
Gen. In fact, when I know what is meant by " mamelon " and " ravelin,"

10

When I can tell at sight a mauser rifle from a javelin,

When such affairs as sorties and surprises I'm more wary at,

And when I know precisely what is meant by commissariat,

When I have learnt what progress has been made in modern gunnery,

When I know more of tactics than a novice in a nunnery ;

In short, when I've a smattering of elemental strategy,

You'll say a better Major-General has never sat a gee —

All. You'll say a better, &c.

Gen. For my military knowledge, though I'm plucky and adventury,
Has only been brought down to the beginning of the century ;
But still in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
I am the very model of a modern Major-General.

All. But still in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
He is the very model of a modern Major-General.

Gen. And now that I've introduced myself I should like to have some
idea of what is going on.

Kate. Oh, papa — we —

Sam. Permit me, I'll explain in two words : we propose to many your
daughters.

Gen. Dear me !

Girls. Against our wills, papa — against our wills !

Gen. Oh, but you mustn't do that ! May I ask — this is a picturesque
uniform, but I'm not familiar with it. What are you ?

King. We are all single gentlemen.

Gen. Yes, I gathered that — anything else ?

King. No, nothing else.

Edith. Papa, don't believe them ; they are pirates — the famous Pirates of
of Penzance !

Gen. The Pirates of Penzance ! I have often heard of them.

Mabel. All except this gentleman — (indicating Frederic) — who was a
pirate once, but who is out of his indentures to-day, and who means to lead a
blameless life evermore.

Gen. But wait a bit. I object to pirates as sons-in-law.

King. We object to Major-Generals as fathers-in-law. But we waive thai
point. We do not press it. We look over it.

Gen. (aside). Hah ! an idea ! (Aloud.) And do you mean to say that you
would deliberately rob me of these, the sole remaining props of my old age,
and leave me to go through the remainder of my life unfriended, unprotected,
and alone ?

King. Well, yes, that's the idea.

Gen. Tell me, have you ever known what it is to be an orphan ?

Pirates (disgusted). Oh, dash it all !

King. Here we are again !

Gen. I ask you, have you ever known what it is to be an orphan ?

King. Often !

Gen. Yes, orphan. Have you ever known what it is to be one ?

King. I say, often.

All (disgusted). Often, often, often.

Gen. I don't think we quite understand one another. L-ask you, have you
ever known what it is to be an orphan, and you say " orphan." As I understand
you, you are merely repeating the word " orphan " to show that you under-
stand me.

King. I didn't repeat j:he word often.

Gen. Pardon me, yjatS did indeed.

King. I only repeated it once.

Gen. True, istit you repeated it.

King. But not often.

Gen. §j$M ','•, 1 think I see where we are getting confused* When you said
" orphan," did you mean " orphan " — a person who has' lost his parents, or
" often " — frequently !

King. Ah ! I beg pardon — I see what you mean — frequently.

Gen. Ah ! you said often — frequently.

King. No, only once.

irritated). Exactly — you said often, frequently, only once.

T »

King and Sam.
Gen.

Pirates.

RECIT . — GENERAL .

Oh, men of dark and dismal fate,
Forego your cruel employ.

Have pity on my lonely state,
I am an orphan boy !

An orphan boy ?

An orphan boy !

How sad-

an orphan boy !
S olo . — General .
These children whom you see
Are all that I can call my own !
Pirates. , Poor fellow !

Gen. Take them away from me

And I shall be indeed alone.
Pirates. Poor fellow !

Gen. If pity you can feel,

Leave me my sole remaining joy —
See, at your feet they kneel ;
Your hearts you cannot steel
Against the sad, sad tale of the lonely orphan boy !
Pirates {sobbing). Poor fellow !

See at our feet they kneel ;
Our hearts we cannot steel
Against the sad, sad tale of the lonely orphan boy !
King. The orphan boy !
Sam. The orphan boy !

All. The lonely orphan boy ! Poor fellow !

Ensemble.

Girls {aside).
He's telling a terrible story,
Which will tend to diminish

his glory ;
Though they would have

taken his daughters
Over the billowy waters,

General {aside).
I'm telling a terrible story,
But it doesn't diminish my

glory ;
For they would have taken

my daughters
Over the billowy waters,
li I hadn't in elegant

diction,
Indulged in an innocent

fiction ;
Which is not in the same

category
As a regular terrible story.

King.

Pirates (aside).
If he's telling a terrible story
He shall die by a death that

is gory,
One of the cruellest slaughters
That ever were known in

these waters ;

It's easy, in elegant diction,
To call it an innocent fiction.
But it comes in the same

categorv
If he's tehing a terrible 6tory

It's easy, in elegant diction,
To call it an innocent fiction,
But it comes in the same

category
As a regular terrible story.

Although our dark career

Sometimes involves the crime of stealing,
We rather think that we're

Not altogether void of feeling.
Although we live by strife,

We're always sorry to begin it,
For what, we ask, is life

Without a touch of Poetry in it ?

All {kneeling). Hail Poetry, thou heaven-born maid !
Thou gildest e'en the pirate's trade :
Hail flowing fount of sentiment,
All hail Divine Emollient ! {All rise.)

King. You may go, for you're at liberty, our pirate rules protect you,
And honorary members of our band we do elect you !

Sam. For he is an orphan boy.

{Chorus). He is ! Hurrah for the orphan boy !

Gen. And it sometimes is a useful thing
To be an orphan boy.
{Chorus). It is ! Hurrah for the orphan boy !

Ensemble.
Oh, happy day, with joyous glee

"Lf > will away and married be ;

Should it befall auspiciously,

12

„ y > sisters all will bridesmaids be !
Her J

Ruth enters and appeals to Frederic.
Ruth. Oh, master, hear one word, I do implore you !

Remember Ruth, your Ruth, who kneels before you !

{Pirates.) Yes, yes, remember Ruth, who kneels before you \
Fred. Away, you did deceive me !

{Pirates threatening Ruth.) Away, you did deceive him !
Ruth. Oh, do not leave me !

{Pirates.) Oh, do not leave her !
Fred.' Away, you grieve me !

{Pirates.) Away, you grieve him !
Fred. I wish you'd leave me !

(Frederic casts Ruth from him.)
Pirates. We wish you'd leave him !

Ensemble.
Pray observe the magnanimity

^f > display to lace and dimity !

Never was such opportunity
To get married with impunity,

uti ^e \

I they j

give up the felicity

Of unbounded domesticity,
Though a doctor of divinity
Resides in this vicinity.
[Girls and General go up rocks, while Pirates indulge in a wild dance of
delight on stage. The General produces a British flag, and the
Pirate King produces a black flag with skull and cross-bones. Enter
Ruth, who makes a final appeal to Frederic, who casts her from him.
End of Act I.

ACT II.

Ruined Chapel by Moonlight. Ruined Gothic windows at back.
eral Stanley discovered seated pensively, surrounded by his daughters.

Chorus.
Oh, dry the glistening tear

That dews that martial cheek,
Thy loving children hear,

In them thy comfort seek.
With sympathetic care

Their arms around thee creep,
For oh, they cannot bear
To see their father weep !
Enter Mabel.

Solo. — Mabel.
Dear father, why leave your bed

At this untimely hour,
When happy daylight is dead,

And darksome dangers lower ?
See, heaven has lit her lamp,

The midnight hour is past,
And the chilly night air is damp,

The dew is falling fast !
Dear father, why leave your bed
When happy daylight is dead ?

Chorus.
Oh, dry the glistening tear, &c.

Frederic enters.
Mabel. Oh, Frederic, cannot you, in the calm excellence of your wisdom,
reconcile it with your conscience to say something that will relieve my father's
sorrow ?

13

\.

Fred. I will try, dear Mabel. But why does he sit, night after night, in this
draughty old ruin ?

Gen. Why do I sit here ? To escape from the pirates' clutches, I described
myself as an orphan, and, heaven help me, 1 am no orphan ! I come here to
humble myself before the tombs of my ancestors, and to implore their pardon
for having brought dishonour on the family escutcheon.

Fred. But you forget, sir, you only bought the property a year ago, and the
stucco in your baronial hall is scarcely dry.

Gen. Frederic, in this chapel are ancestors : you cannot deny that. With
the estate, I bought the chapel and its contents. I don't know whose ancestors
they were, but I know whose ancestors they are, and I shudder to think that
their descendant by purchase (if I may so describe myself) should have brought
disgrace upon what, I have no doubt, was an unstained escutcheon.

Fred. Be comforted. Had you not acted as you did, these reckless men
would assuredly have called in the nearest clergyman, and have married your
large family on the spot.

Gen. I thank you for your proferred solace, but it is unavailing. I assure
you, Frederic, that such is the anguish and remorse I feel at the abominable
falsehood by which I escaped these easily deluded pirates, that I would go to
their simple-minded chief this very night and confess all, did I not fear that
the consequences would be most disastrous to myself. At what time does
your expedition march against these scoundrels ?

Fred. Ateleven^ and beforeinidQigJ^i; I hope to have atoned for my in-
vo\xm\2ay^HH/8S&IM^ffir'*08& by sweeping them from the

face of the earth — and then, dear Mabel, you will be mine !
Are your devoted followers at hand ?

T hey are, ^ (^j.as^LaaLg£d£a^.

"" Recit. — General.

Then, Frederic, let your escort lion-hearted
Be summoned to receive a general's blessing,
Ere they depart upon their dread adventure.
ed. Dear sir, they come.

Enter Police, marching in single file. They form in line, facing audience.

Song. — Sergeant.
When the foeman bares his steel,

Tarantara ! tarantara !
We uncomfortable feel,

Tarantara !
And we find the wisest tiling.,

Tarantara I tarantara !
Is to slap our chests and sing

Tarantara !
For when threatened with emeutes,

Tarantara ! tarantara !
And your heart is in your boots,
Tarantara !
There is notiiing brings it round,
Like the trumpet's martial sound,

Tarantara ! tarantara J
Tarantara, ra-ra-ra-ra !
Tarantara, ra-ra-ra-ra !
Go, ye heroes, go to glory,
Though ye die in combat gory,
Ye shall live in song and story.

Go to immortality !
Go to death, and go to slaughter ;
Die, and every Cornish daughter
With her tears your grave shall water.
Go, ye heroes, go and die !
Go, ye heroes, go and die 1
Though to us it's evident,

Tarantara ! tarantara !
These attentions are well meant.
Tarantara !

Police
Mabel

Girls.
Police,

Such expressions don't appear,

Tarantara ! tarantara !
Calculated men to cheer,

Tarantara !
Who are going to meet their fate
In a highly nervous state,

Tarantara !
Still to us it's evident
These attentions are well meant,
Tarantara !
Edith. Go and do your best endeavour,

And before all links we sever,
We will say farewell for ever.

Go to glory and the grave S
Girls. For your foes are fierce and ruthless,

False, unmerciful, and truthless,
Young and tender, old and toothless,
All in vain their mercy crave.
Serg. We observe too great a stress

On the risks that on us press,
And of reference alack
To our chance of coming back.
Still, perhaps it would be wise
Not to carp or criticise,
For it's very evident
These attentions are well meant.
Police. Yes, it's very evident

These attentions are well meant.

Tarantara-ra-ra-ra-ra !

Chorus of all but Police.
Go, ye heroes, go to glory ;
Though ye die in combat gory,
Ye shall live in song and story,

Go to immortality !
Go to death and go to slaughter ;
Die, and every Cornish daughter
With her tears your grave shall water

Go, ye heroes, go and die !

Gen.

Away, away

Ensemble.

Chorus of Police.
When the foeman bares his steel,

Tarantara, tarantara !
We uncomfortable feel,

Tarantara !
And we find the wisest thing,

Tarantara, tarantara !
Is to slap our chests and sing !

Tarantara !
For when threatened with emeutes,

Tarantara, tarantara !
And your heart is in your boots,

Tarantara !
There is nothing brings it round
Like the trumpet's martial sound,

Tarantara, tarantara !

Police (without moving). Yes, yes, we go.

Gen. These pirates slay.

Police. Tarantara !

Gen. Then do not stay.

Police. Tarantara !

Gen. Then why this delay ?

Police. All right — we go.

Yes, forward on the foe !
Gen. Yes, but you don't go !

Police. We go, we go !

Yes, forward on the foe !
Gen. Yes, but you don't go !

All. At last they really go. (Exeunt Police.)

(Mabel tears herself from Frederic and exit, followed by the
General and her sisters, consoling her. Frederic remains.)
Recit. — Fred.

Now for the pirates' lair ! Oh, joy unbounded !

Oh, sweet relief ! Oh, rapture unexampled !

15

At last I may atone, in some slight measure,
For the repeated acts of theft and pillage
Which, at a sense of duty's stern dictation,
I, circumstance's victim, have been guilty.

(King and RUTH appear at the windozi\ armed.).
King. Young Frederic ! {Covering him with pistol.)
Fred. Who calls ?

King. Your late commander !

Ruth. And I, your little Ruth ! {Covering him with pistol.)
Fred. Oh, mad intruders,

How dare you face me ? Know ye not, oh rash ones,
That I have doomed you to extermination ?

(King and Ruth hold a pistol to each car.}
King. Have mercy on us, hear us, ere you slaughter.
Fred. I do not think I ought to listen to you.

Yet, mercy should alloy our stern resentment,
And so I will be merciful — say on !

Trio. — Ruth, King, and Fred.
Ruth. When you had left our pirate fold,

We tried to raise our spirits faint,
According to our custom old,

With quips and quibbles quaint.
But all in vain, the quips we heard,

We lay and sobbed upon the rocks,
Until to somebody occurred
A startling paradox.
Fred. A paradox ?

Ruth. A paradox,

A most ingenious paradox !
We've quips and quibbles heard in flocks,
But none to beat this paradox !
All. A paradox, a most ingenious paradox !

Ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! Ho ! ho ! ho ! ho !
King. We knew your taste for curious quips,

For cranks and contradictions queer,
And with the laughter on our lips,

We wished you there to hear.
We said, " If we could tell it him,

How Frederic would the joke enjoy,"
And so we've risked both life and limb
To tell it to our boy.
Fred, {interested). That paradox ?
King. That paradox,

{Laughing.) That most ingenious paradox !
We've quips and quibbles heard in flocks,
But none to beat that paradox !
All. A paradox, a most ingenious paradox !

Ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! Ho ! ho ! ho ! ho !
Chant. — King.
For some ridiculous reason, to which, however, I've'no desire to be disloyal,
Some person in authority, I don't know who, very likely the Astronomer Royal,
Has decided that, although for such a beastly month as February, twenty-eight

days as a rule are plenty,
One year in every four his days shall be reckoned as nine-and-twenty.
Through some singular coincidence — I shouldn't be surprised if were owing

to the agency of an ill-natured fairy —
You are the victim of this clumsy arrangement, having been born in leap-year,

on the twenty-ninth of February.
And so, by a simple arithmetical process, you'll easily discover,
That though you've lived twenty-one years, yet, if we go by birthdays, you're
only five and a little bit over !
Ruth. Ha ! ha ! ha ! ha !

King. Ho ! ho ! ho ! ho !

Fred. Dear me !

it>

All.
any.)
Fred.

Ha!

Let's see ! {counting on fingers.)
Yes, yes ; with yours my fingers do agree !
ha ! ha ! ha ! Ho ! ho! ho! ho ! (Frederic more amused tha-n

How quaint the ways of Paradox !
At common sense she gaily mocks !
Though counting in the usual way,
Years twenty-one I've been alive,
Yet reckoning by my natal day,
I am a little boy of five !
All. He is a little boy of five ! Ha ! ha !

A paradox, a paradox,
A most ingenious paradox !
Ha ! ha ! ha ! ha !
All. Ho ! ho ! ho ! ho ! (Ruth and King throw themselves back on scats,
exhausted with laughter.)

Fred. Upon my word, this is most curious — most absurdly whimsical.
Five and a quarter ! No one would think it to look at me !

Ruth. You are glad now, I'll be bound, that you spared us. You would
never have forgiven yourself when you discovered that you had killed two of
your comrades.

Fred. My comrades ?

King (rises). I'm afraid you don't appreciate the delicacy of your position.
You were apprenticed to us —

Fred. Until I reached my twenty-first year.

King. No, until you reached your twenty-first birthday (producing docu-
ment), and, going by birthdays, you are as yet only five and a quarter.
Fred. You don't mean to say you are going to hold me to that ?
King. No, we merely remind you of the fact, and leave the rest to your
sense of duty.

Ruth (rises). Your sense of duty !

Fred, (wildly). Don't put it on that footing ! As I was merciful to you just
now, be merciful to me ! I implore you not to insist on the letter of your bond
just as the cup of happiness is at my lips !

Ruth. We insist on nothing ; we content ourselves with pointing out to
you your duty.

King. Your duty !

Fred, (after a pause). Well, you have appealed to my sense of duty, and my
duty is only too clear. I abhor your infamous calling ; I shudder at the thought
that I have ever been mixed up with it ; but duty is before all — at any price
I will do my duty.

King. Bravely spoken ! Come, you are one of us once more.
Lead on, I follow. (Suddenly.) Oh, horror !

Fred.

King.
Ruth.
Fred.

What is the matter ?

Ought I to tell you ? No, no, I cannot do it ; and yet, as one of
your band —

King. Speak out, I charge you by that sense of conscientiousness to which
we have never yet appealed in vain.

General Stanley, the father of my Mabel —

Fred.

King

Ruth.

Fred.

King.

Fred.

Yes, yes !

He escaped from you on the plea that he was an orphan !

He did !

It breaks my heart to betray the honoured father of the girl I adore,
but as your apprentice I have no alternative. It is my duty to tell you that
General Stanley is no orphan !

King. l What!

Ruth. J

Fred. More than that, he never was one !

King. Arn T tn understand that, to save his contemptible life, he dared to
practise cl^^ilia^^li^f/'? (Frederic nods as he weeps.) Our
revenge shall be swift and terrible. We will go and collect our band and attack
Tremorden Castle this very night.

17

Fred.
King.

But-

Not

-stay —
a word !

He is doomed !

King and Ruth.
Away, away ! my heart's on fire,

I burn this base deception to repay.
This very night my vengeance dire
Shall glut itself in gore.

Away, away !
King.

tmmmmmmmmmmm

Fred.
Away, away ! ere I expire-

All.

Ruth.

King.

Fred.

Ruth.

King.

Ruth.

Fred.

King.

All.

Fred.

Mabel.
Fred.

Mabel.

Fred.

Mabel.

Mabel.

Fred.

Mabel.
Fred.
Mabel.
Fred.

I find my duty hard to do to-day !
My heart is filled with anguish dire,
It strikes me to the core.
Away, away !

With falsehood foul
He tricked us of our brides.

Let vengeance howl ;
The Pirate so decides.

Our nature stern
He softened with his lies,

And, in return,
To-night the traitor dies.
Yes, yes ! to-night the traitor dijs !

To-night he dies !
Yes, or early to-morrow.

His girls likewise ?

They will welter in sorrow.
The one soft spot
In their natures they cherish —

And all who plot
To abuse it shall perish !

To-night he dies —
Away, away ! &c.

Enter Mabel.

[Exeunt King and Ruth.

Recit. — Mabel.
All is prepared, your gallant crew awair you.
My Frederic in tears ? It cannot be
That lion-heart quails at the coming conflict ?
No, Mabel, no. A terrible disclosure
Has just been made ! Mabel, my dearly-loved on-;
I bound myself to serve the pirate captain
Until I reached my one and twentieth birthday —
But you are twenty-one ?

I've just discovered
That I was born in leap-year, and that birthday
Will not be reached by me till 1940.

Oh, horrible ! Catastrophe appalling !

And so, farewell !

No, no ! Ah, Frederic, hear me.

Duet. — Mabel and Fred.

Stay, Frederic, stay !

They have no legal claim,
No shadow of a shame
Will fall upon thy name.

Stay^ Frederic, stay !

Nay, Mabel, nay !

To-night I quit these walls,
The thought my soul appals,
But when stern Duty calls,

I must obey.

Stay, Frederic, stay !

Nay, Mabel, nay !

They have no claim —
But Duty's name !
The thought my soul appals,
But when stern Duty calls,

I must obey.

18

Ballad. — Mabel.
Ah, leave me not to pine

Alone and desolate ;
No fate seemed fair as mine.

No happiness so great !
And nature, day by day.

Has sung, in accents clear,
This joyous roundelay,

" He loves thee — he is here.
Fa-la, la-la, Fa-la."
Fred. Ah, must I leave thee here

In endless night to dream,
Where joy is dark and drear,

And sorrow all supreme !
Where nature, day by day,

Will sing, in altered tone,
This weary roundelay,

" He loves thee — he is gone.
Fa-la, la-la, Fa-la."
Both. Fa-la, la-la, Fa-la !

Fred. In 1940 I of age shall be,

I'll then return, and claim you — I declare it !
Mabel. It seems so long !

Fred. Swear that, till then, you will be true to me.

Mabel. Yes, I'll be strong !

By all the Stanleys dead and gone, I swear it !

Ensemble.
Oh, here is love, and here is truth,
And here is food for joyous laughter

|^ e jwill be faithful to i^X sooth

Till we are wed, and even after.

[Frederic rushes to window and leaps out
Mabel {almost fainting). No, I am brave ! Oh, family descent,
How great thy charm, thy sway how excellent !
Come, one and all, undaunted men in blue,
A crisis, now, affairs are coming to !

Enter Police , marching in single file.
Serg. Though in body and in mind,

Tarantara, tarantara !
We are timidly inclined,

Tarantara !
And anything but blind,

Tarantara, tarantara I
To the danger that's behind,

Tarantara !
Yet, when the danger's near,

Tarantara, tarantara !
We manage to appear,

Tarantara !
As insensible to fear
As anybody here.

Tarantara, tarantara-ra-ra-ra-ra !
Mabel. Sergeant, approach ! Young Frederic was to have led you to death
and glory.

All. That is not a pleasant way of putting it.

Mabel. No matter ; he will not so lead you, for he has allied himself once
more with his old associates.

All. He has acted shamefully !

Mabel. You speak falsely. You know nothing about it. He has acted nobly.
All. He has acted nobly !

Mabel. Dearly as I loved him before, his heroic sacrifice to his sense of
duty has endeared him to me tenfold. He has done his duty. I will do mine.
Go ye and do yours. [Exit Mabel.

10

All. Right oh !

Serg. This is perplexing.

All. We cannot understand it at all.

Serg. Stilly as he is actuated by a sense of duty —

All. That makes a difference, of course. At the same time wc repeat, we
cannot understand it at all.

Serg. No matter ; our course is clear. We must do our best to capture
these pirates alone. It is most distressing to us to be the agents whereby our
erring fellow-creatures are deprived of that liberty which is so dear to all — but
we should have thought of that before we joined the force.
. All. We should!

Serg. It is too late now !

All. It is !

Song. — Serg.
When a felon's not engaged in his employment —

All. His employment,

Serg. Or maturing his felonious little plans —

All. Little plans,

Serg. His capacity for innocent enjoyment —

All. 'Cent enjoyment

Serg. Is just as great as any honest man's —

All. Honest man's.

Serg. Our feelings we with difficulty smother —

All. 'Culty smother

Serg. When constabulary duty's to be done —

All. To be done.

Serg. Ah, take one consideration with another —

All. With another,

Serg. A policeman's lot is not a happy one.

All. When constabulary duty's to be done —

To be done,
The policeman's lot is not a happy one.

Serg. When the enterprising burglar's not a-burgling —

All. Not a-burgling,

Serg. When the cut-throat isn't occupied in crime —

All. 'Pied in crime,

Serg. He loves to hear the little brook a-gurgling —

All. Brook a-gurgling,

Serg. And listen to the merry village chime —

All. Village chime.

Serg. When the coster's finished jumping on his mother—-

All. On his mother,

Serg. He loves to lie a-basking in the sun —

All. In the sun.

Serg. Ah, take one consideration with another —

All. With another,

Serg. The policeman's lot is not a happy one.

All. When constabulary duty's to be done —

To be done,
The poKceman's lot is not a happy one —

Happy one.

(Chorus of Pirates without , in the distance.)

A rollicking band of pirates we,
Who, tired of tossing on the sea,
Are trying their hand at a burglaree,
With weapons grim and gory.
Serg. Hush, hush ! I hear them on the manor poaching,

With stealthy step the pirates are approaching.

(Chorus of Pirates , resumed nearer.)

We are not coming for plate or gold —
A story General Stanley's told —
We seek a penalty fifty-fold,
For General Stanley's story.

20

Police. They seek a penalty —
Pirates (without). Fifty-fold,

We seek a penalty —
Police. Fifty-fold,

All. -J J*^ e V seek a penalty fifty-fold.

For General Stanley's story.
Serg. They come in force, with stealthy stride,

Our obvious course is now — to hide.
(Police conceal themselves. As they do, the Pirates are seen appearing at ruined
window. They enter cautiously, and come down stage. Samuel is laden with
burglarious tools and pistols, &c.)

Chorus. — Pirates (very loud).
With cat-like tread,

Upon our prey we steal,
In silence dread

Our cautious way we feel.
No sound at all,

We never speak a word,
A fly's foot-fall
Would be distinctly heard —
Police (pianissimo). Tarantara, tarantara !

Pirates. So stealthily the pirate creeps,

While all the household soundly sleeps.
Come, friends, who plough the sea,
Truce to navigation,
Take another station ;
Let's vary piracee
With a little burglaree !
Police (pianissimo). Tarantara, tarantara !

Sam. (distributing implements to various members of the gang)
Here's your crowbar and your centrebit,
Your life preserver — you may want to hit ;
Your silent matches, your dark lantern seize,
Take your file and your skeletonic keys.

Enter King, Frederic, and Ruth.
All (fortissimo). With cat-like tread, &c.

Recit.
Fred. Hush, hush, not a word ! I see a light inside !

The Major-General comes, so quickly hide !
Pirates. Yes, yes, the Major-General comes ! (Pirates conceal themselves.)

[Exeunt King, Frederic, Samuel, and Ruth.
Police. Yes, yes, the Major-General comes !

Gen. (entering in dressing-gown, carrying a light). Yes, yes, the Major-General
comes !

Solo. — General.
Tormented with the anguish dread

Of falsehood unatoned,
I lay upon my sleepless bed,

And tossed and turned and groaned.
The man who finds his conscience ache

No peace at all enjoys,

And as I lay in bed awake

I thought I heard a noise.

Pdxates. 1 He thought he heard a noise — ha ! ha !

Police, j He thought he heard a noise — ha ! ha !

Gen. No, all is still

In dale, on hill ;
My mind is set at ease.

So still the scene —

It must have been
The sighing of the breeze.

21

Ballad. — General.

Sighing softly to the river

Comes the loving breeze,
Setting nature all a-quiver,
Rustling through the trees —
All. Through the trees.

Gen. And the brook, in rippling measure,

Laughs for very love,
While the poplars, in their pleasure,
Wave their arms above.
Police 1 Yes, the trees, for very love,

and y Wave their leafy arms above,

Pirates. J River, river, little river,

May thy loving prosper e'er.
Heaven speed thee, poplar tree,
May thy wooing happy be.
Gen. Yet, the breeze is but a rover,

When he wings away !
Brook and poplar mourn a lover !
Sighing well-a-day !
All. Well-a-day !

Gen. Ah ! the doing and undoing,

That the rogue could tell,
When the breeze is out a-wooing,
Who can woo so well ?
Police Shocking tales the rogue could tell.

and V Nobody can woo so well.

Pirates. J Pretty brook, thy dream is over,

For thy love is but a rover !
Sad the lot of poplar trees,
Courted by the fickle breeze !

Enter the General's daughters, all in white peignoir es and night-caps, and carrying

lighted candles.

Girls. Now what is this, and what is that, and why does father leave his
rest
At such a time of night as this, so very incompletely dressed ?
Dear father is, and always was, the most methodical of men !
It's his invariable rule to go to bed at half-past ten.
What strange occurrence can it be that calls dear father from his

rest
At such a time of night as this, so very incompletely dressed ?
Enter King, Samuel, and Frederic.
King. Forward, my men, and seize that General there ! (They seize the
General.)

GniLS. The pirates ! the pirates ! Oh, despair !
Pirates (springing up). Yes, we're the pirates, so despair I

Gen.

Mabel.
Fred.

Pirates.
King.

Mabel (wildly).
Girls.

Frederic here ! Oh, joy ! Oh, rapture !
Summon your men and effect their capture !
Frederic, save us !

Beautiful Mabel,
I would if I could, but I am not able.
He's telling the truth, he is not able.
With base deceit

You worked upon our feelings
Revenge is sweet,

And flavours all our dealings !
With courage rare

And resolution manly,
For death prepare,

Unhappy General Stanley !

Is he to die, unshriven — unannealed ?
Oh, spare him !

Mabel. Will no one in his cause a weapon wield ?

z2

Girls. Oh, spare him !

Police (springing up). Yes, we are here, though hitherto concealed !
Girls. Oh, rapture !

Police. So to Constabulary, pirates yield !
Girls. Oh, rapture !

(A struggle ensues between Pirates and Police. Eventually the Police are overcome,
and fall prostrate, the Pirates standing over them with drawn swords.)

Chorus of Police and Pirates.

*^ u > triumph now, for well we trow

~; ur y mortal career's cut short,
Your J

No pirate band will take its stand

At the Central Criminal Court.

Serg. To gain a brief advantage you've contrived,

Rut your proud triumph will not be long-lived.
King. Don't say you are orphans, for we know that game !

Serg. On your allegiance we've a stronger claim —

We charge you yield, in Queen Victoria's name !
King (baffled). You do !
Police. We do !

We charge you yield, in Queen Victoria's name !

(Pirates kneel, Police stand over them triumphantly.)
King. We yield at once, with humbled mien,

Because, with all our faults, we love our Queen.
Police. Yes, yes, with all their faults, they love their Queen.
All. Yes, yes, with all, &c.

(Police holding Pirates by the collar, take out handkerchiefs and weep,)
Gen. Away with them, and place them at the bar 1

Enter Ruth.

Ruth. One moment ! let me tell you who they are.

They are no members of the common throng ;

They are all noblemen, who have gone wrong !
Girls. They are all noblemen, who have gone wrong.
Gen. No Englishman unmoved that statement hears,

Because, with all our faults, we love our House of Peers.

Recit. — General.
I pray you pardon me, ex-Pirate King,
Peers will be peers, and youth will have its fling.
Resume your ranks, and legislative duties,
And take my daughters, all of whom are beauties-

FINALE.
Poor wandering ones !

Though ye have surely strayed,

Take heart of grace,

Your steps retrace,
Poor wandering ones !
Poor wandering ones !

If such poor love as ours

Can help you find

True peace of mind,
Why, take it, it is yours !
ALL. Poor wandering ones ! &c

Curtain.

*3

POPULAR COMIC OPERAS

By

W. S. GILBERT & ARTHUR SULLIVAN

— The Pirates of Penzance —
The Mikado — The Gondoliers

— The Yeomen of the Guard —
Iolanthe — Patience

— Trial by Jury —
Princess Ida — The Grand Duke

— Ruddigore —
Utopia, Limited — *H.M.S. Pinafore

— *The Sorcerer —

Haddon Hall
By Sydney Grundy and Arthur Sullivan

Ivanhoe
By Julian Sturgis and Arthur Sullivan

The above can be had as follows :

Vocal Score, complete. Pianoforte Solo, complete

Libretto

Separate Songs and Dance Music

Pianoforte Selection

Items marked -JJ- Libretti published by Chappell & Co., Ltd.

Vocal Scores and Separate Songs of these two Operas published by

J. B. Cramer & Co., Ltd.

CHAPPELL & CO., LTD.

50 NEW BOND STREET, LONDON, W. 1
NEW YORK — SYDNEY

And may be obtained of all Music Sellers
No. 242

i^ffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiotoffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiaiffii

BRJGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

11

97 23068 4646

mi ii iiiiii ii

Date Due

All library items are subject to recall at any time.

Nnv o a m

OCT 3 2011
OCT 2 6 2011

OCT 1 9 Ml

Brigham Young University